Jardine's Naturalist Library Hummingbirds 1833

The Naturalist's Library was the first successful attempt to make natural history accessible to the general public.  The noted Scottish ornithologist Sir William Jardine set out to describe and illustrate all animals, birds and insects through this series.  Engraver William H. Lizars wanted to make the plates as showy as possible to attract attention, and created the engraving plates in steel - not the traditional copper - to create a very fine line on the small area (each page measures approximately 4" by 6 1/2").  Each animal was then hand-colored before publication. The first issue of the hummingbirds volume was a major success; the first issue of 3000 copies quickly sold out. This collection comes from the second edition printing. The vibrant hand-coloring makes each hummingbird a jewel, and we are delighted to share them with you.